Experience with Empirical Methods for Evaluating Pressure Drop Properties of Immobilized Glucose Isomerase

Abstract

Abstract An important and often critical factor in the design and operation if fixed bed reactors is the ability of the catalyst material to resist bed pressure drop. Most immobilized enzyme products are compressible when exposed to pressure. In a fixed bed column the pressure drop will increase progressively with bedheigth. Moreover, deformation of the particles may continue with time, so this factor has to be taken into consideration, too. This paper deals with the prediction of pressure drop over an bed of immobilized glucose isomerase by simulating different locations in larger columns by the help of smaller lab‐apparatus. The experimental data are submitted to empirical numerical analysis and compared with results from pilot plant columns (2–3 m bedheight). The laboratory apparatus and correlations outlined in the paper provide a convenient and relatively quick method for evaluating mechanical properties of enzyme preparations relevant for their use in industrial reactors.